West Ham v Leeds predictions: Hammers to continue solid home form

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for West Ham v Leeds in the Premier League on Monday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Premier League & Main Event, 8pm, Monday

Best bet

West Ham
1pt 21-20 general

Team news

West Ham
West Ham will check on goalkeepers Lukasz Fabianski and Darren Randolph but David Moyes is confident both will be available. Moyes may also revert to a back four after switching to a 5-4-1 in the defeat against Manchester City.

Leeds
Kalvin Phillips and Rodrigo could return to the matchday squad, but it is unclear if they'll be fit enough to start.

Match preview

West Ham have their sights set on a European berth and can boost their continental claims when they host a Leeds side who are hard to get a handle on.

The Whites have won six games away from home in the Premier League this season, but they have also lost seven times and are yet to draw on the road.

Marcelo Bielsa's side are dazzling to watch, but while the Hammers also have their moments, David Moyes' pragmatism might be the deciding factor.

Moyes is rightly earning plaudits for the way he has transformed an underperforming side into a well-oiled machine. The Scot was unlucky not to get the job after fulfilling his brief in his first spell in charge and has now made himself indispensable to the club's future.

Perhaps the 57-year-old has been aided by a lack of fans in Stratford but his side's seven home wins mean they'll be clamouring to return to the London Stadium.

Fortunately for the hosts, Michail Antonio seems to have found his shooting boots again, netting in his last two outings, and they can also take heart from their 2-1 win at Elland Road in December.

Both goals that night came from set-pieces - an area of major weakness for Leeds this term. Bielsa's men have conceded 19 times from dead-ball situations this season, including penalties.

Indeed, defending as a whole has been an issue. They have conceded 44 league goals - 27 of which have come on the road - while Anwar El Ghazi's fifth-minute strike in last weekend's 1-0 home defeat to Aston Villa was a league-high 27th time they have been breached in the first half.

Injuries have not helped their cause but things might be starting to pick up on that front with the recent return from injury of Spain international Diego Llorente. The classy 27-year-old has started his side's last two games, earning special praise from Bielsa following the 3-0 win over Southampton.

Despite their defensive foibles, Leeds make up for it going forward, netting 24 times in their 13 away games.

Bielsa steadfastly sticks to his philosophy so they will no doubt attempt to go on the offensive at every opportunity on Monday but as the Hammers showed at Elland Road, they can now control opponents before striking on the break. That ploy almost worked in last weekend's creditable defeat at Manchester City, with Antonio hitting the post and Issa Diop nodded agonisingly wide in injury time.

Moyes also has a good record against Leeds, winning four of his five Premier League games as a manager when facing the Whites.

With the Hammers flourishing under his guidance, it'll be no surprise if the Scot improves on that tally this evening.

Key stat

David Moyes has won four of his five Premier League games as a manager against Leeds.

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